Fly swatter



Jqly 24, 1934. o. J; URBANEK FLY SWATTER Filed July 28, 1932 MENTOR 0M0 Joae blz wzanelr BY I Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a fly swatter and particularly to a novel construction thereof which utilizes inexpensive materials and which eliminates the objectionable features of frequent breakage, protrusion of metal parts which strike and mar furniture, and undesirable rigidity of the shank of the device.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a fly killing device which has the blade thereof made of light flat flexible material such as sponge rubber and which has an elongated handle partially formed of a flexible tubular element having integral portions thereof secured to the flat blade.

A further object of my invention is the provi-' sion of a fly-killing device having a flat flexible blade and. an elongated handle comprising a rubber hose section which is reinforced for a portion of its length by a rigid wooden member and which hose section has integral tongue portions which are secured tosaid blade.

On the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a side elevational view of the preferred form of my device.

Fig. 2 is a partially cross sectional and partial side elevational view taken on line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a modified form of my device.

As shown on the drawing:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference number 10 indicates a relatively thin flat blade of flexible material such as sponge rubber of circular area which terminates in a narrow downwardly extending tongue portion, the end of which has a rectangular recess as indicated. A flexible rubber neck 11, which is formed of a tube section, is bifurcated at its upper end to form two diametrically opposite tongues 12 and 13. Siaid tongues are respectively firmly secured to opposite flat sides of the web 10 by cementing or the like. A rattan member 14, preferably of circular cross section, is secured by gluing or the like in the lower end of the neck 11 to approximately one half the length of the downwardly extending portion of said tube section, thereby leaving a hollow tube portion of about one inch in length.

The lower end of the rattan member 14 has an aperture drilled therethrough in the direction of O the plane of the blade 10. A flexible rattan segthereof are bent upwardly adjacent the rattan member 14, in which position said ends are secured by string 16 wound therearound. This construction provides a convenient flat handle ment 15 is inserted in said aperture and the ends which will prevent my swatter from turning in the users hand.

An important feature of my construction is the hollow portion of the rubber neck 11 which permits striking of any surface or object from various angles without possible injury to such surface or object, and which will also permit the flexible flat blade 10 to conform to the plane or shape of the object struck. This neck may also be of solid flexible rubber. Furthermore, the tongues 12 and 13, being formed integral with the neck 11, serve to return and maintain the blade 10 to proper normal position.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of my fly swatter which embodies the same structural features as that previously described except in the handle.

In this form the handle comprises a rubber tube 16 of the desired length having diametrically opposite integral tongues 12 and 13 on one end thereof, said tongues being secured by cementing, stitching or the like, to the flat flexible blade 10.

A rattan stick 14 is inserted in said rubber tube 16 to within approximately one inch of the web 10, thereby leaving a hollow neck portion to permit flexing thereof. The handle end of the rattan stick 14' terminates at the same point as the rubber tube 16. A tack 17 is driven into the end of said stick 14' to prevent the same from shifting farther into the tube 16 and for decorating purposes. This construction provides a swatter 5 which has no partwhich can scratch or otherwise injure furniture or other objects with which it comes in contact.

I claim as my invention:

In a fly swatter, a flat flexible member of rubber on or the like having a peripheral recess therein; a rubber neck secured to said member and engaging said recess, said neck having integral tongues secured on opposite sides of said member; and a handle having one end secured in the free end of said neck, only through a part of the length of said neck, the end of said handle terminating a substantial distance from the peripheral recess of said angular member. 

